The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1887-01-01
sake, old man, l hope there's an entan-
clement in New York, fol if you've come
down here heart-whole you're 'gon-
ner.'

sake, OLD man, nope there an entan-
clement in New York, fol if you've come
down here heart-whole you're a 'gon-
ner.''
'Fred-'
Il beg your pardon, my dear; but
here is the lady returning from her walk.
Come over, Crawford, and judge for
YOURSELF
approached the window, and a cry
of amazement almost escaped me. Sure
ly l could not mistake the graceful pose
of that shapely head, the low, broad
brow, the exquisite curve of the almost
faultless mouth and, above all, the ten
der blue of the large, loving eye Yes,
she was the fairy of last nights dream.
BY an effort I controlled my agitation
as she entered the room.
ooh! Virginie, your cross has been
found, Mrs. Livingston said, 'and let
me introduce the gentleman who restores
it. Mr.. Crawford, Miss Vane.'
AS her eyes met mine she started vio-
lently, and as she gazed intently on my
face her own assumed palor hue. Of
course this incident could not fail to at
tract the attention of Livingston and
his wife, and when claiming an invilid's
privilege to retire early the former fol-
lowed me to my room.
well, what do you think of Miss
Vane?' he asked.
THAT she is very handsome girl, and
better still, she has the subdued manner
and gentle voice that is very soothing to
one who suffers from nervous irritability.
Crawford, you know I would not try
to extort your confidence, but I think
you have met her before
upon my honor, no..
'And yet her evident agitation on
meeting you, and certain furtive glances
at each other during the evening. Well.
suppose I must take it as case of mu
tual love at first sight
Erred, my good boy, I have always
believed that love at sight is passion
possible only to FOOLS
From my childhood 1 had loved the
sea, and many hours were spent along
the shore, often alone, but rather oftener
with Miss Vane as companion. Even
if her beauty had not already enthralled
me, the society of this gentle, cultured
girl should have an inexpressible fasci-
nation for me; and as the days wore on,
l realized that the love, of which had
only read in books awoke in my heart
at last strange, unquiet joy. For
what could this newborn passion bring
me but sorrow? When this brief holt
day was over our paths in life must ne
cessarily lie far apart. And yet, 'how
happy the days of Thalaba passed BY
For the rest, when the parting came
surely could learn to forget in mental
toll this first sweet madness of my man
hood.
My holiday had already been pro-
longed far beyond the limit 1 at first in
tended, but letter received one after
noon from my law-partner summoned
me peremptorily and at once to New
York. 1 found Virginie Vane down by
the beach, where l sought her to say
farewell. There was swift upward
glance and sudden dropping of the
silken lashes-the pretty trick of hers 1
had often admired-when I told her 1
was leaving in the morning.
'And the thought of getting back to
New York again makes you feelhappier?
Il would have been happier if l never
came here. I do not think that this
summer vacation by the seaside will
tend to brighten the dull routine of my
city life. May I not sometimes think
of many ramble by this shore when,
night after night, walk from a lawyers
office to solitary home, along the same
streets, the same avenue and meet the
same frowzy women and unkempt chill
dren, and ever to be haunted by the
memory of dream?'
She listened to regrets that must have
seemed to her almost childishly petu-
liant, silence, and-well, Heaven only
knows how it happened; but l had come
to say farewell, and 1 remained to tell
her that I loved her. I am not going
to place on record here the words in
which that declaration was made. 1t
has long been a settled conviction OF
mine that in the supreme moment when
a man wishes to appear dignifed in one
woman's eyes, he succeeds in being only/l
ridiculous; and I believe that any young
lady who has ever been made love to
will sustain me in that conviction. For
the first time had known her the faint
est flush of color warmed Virginie's
cheeks, as she said:
MIR. Crawford, will YOU call it female
vanity, female intuition, if say 1 knew
you would tell me this2 Do you believe
in dreamsl Why do l ask7 would you
say. The night before you came here
I saw you in a dream. 1 dreamed you
came to me to restore this Maltese cross,
but on one condition, that I should
promise to be your wife, and the coin
cidence Was startling enough to explain
my agitation when met you the follow
ing day.
Some moralist tells us that no secrets
should exist between husband and wife,
and Fred Livingston once said to me,
sIt's beautiful sentiment, Crawford,
but it don't work worth cent Virginie
Crawford never knew of my own dream
until she read this manuscript.
1T was real mean to keep this secret
from me, was her only comment, 'but
will any of your readers, Leslie, believe
the story
aG~A young woman from the coun-
try sued her ex-sweetheart for breach of
promise, and the lawyers were as usual
making all sorts of inquisitive questions.
you say remarked one, that the
defendant frequently sat very close to
your 'Yes, was the reply, with blush.
'How closer CLOSE enough so'es one
cheer was all the settin' room needed.
'And you say he put his arm around
your? No, didn't 'What did you
L IL